Xu Wangqiu looked back and saw a strong man with a big belly and looking like a villain, laughing and walking towards him. It's none other than Harvey, the boss of Miramax. He laughed, "Harvey, why are you here?"

Harvey opened his arms and gave Xu Wangqiu a warm bear hug: "I came in and walked around, I didn't expect to meet you." He rubbed his hands excitedly: "This year's Cannes is a rare big year, with a large number of masters in the main competition unit and the screening unit. There will definitely be a lot of movies worth watching and buying. Of all the movies though, the one I'm most looking forward to is your Cold. ”

If "Cold" was an export company's movie, Xu Wangqiu would definitely hand it over to Harvey for distribution, but "Cold" was invested by Xia Meng, and Xia Meng was the boss. He can't make the decision, so he can only match: ""Cold" is not a film of an export company, I shot it for the Blue Bird Company. Harvey, let me introduce you. This is the owner of the Blue Bird Company, Ms. Xia Meng. Sister Xia Meng, this is Harvey Weinstein, the owner of Miramax, our partner in the United States. ”

Xia Meng smiled and stretched out his hand: "Hello, Mr. Weinstein, it's a pleasure to meet you." ”

Only then did Harvey know that Xu Wangqiu's "Cold" was not an export company's movie, but that of the beautiful middle-aged lady in front of him. He didn't dare to slack off, shook Xia Meng's hand, and said politely: "Hello, Ms. Xia Meng, it's a pleasure to meet you." Xu's previous movies were all released by Miramax in the United States. I hope you can sell me the distribution rights of "Cold" in the United States, and we will take care of the distribution in the United States. ”

Xia Meng came to Cannes to sell movies, and some people were willing to buy film copyrights, so naturally they couldn't ask for it: "Of course you can." It's just that this is not the place to talk about things, so let's find a time to talk about it. ”

Xu Wangqiu also said: "Harvey, now is not the time to talk about business. Wait for the official release of "Cold" on the 19th, and talk about it after you finish watching the movie. Now you don't know the genre of the movie, and you don't know the quality of the movie, so you definitely can't give an accurate quote. ”

Harvey laughed and said, "I have confidence in your movie, I have booked "Cold"!"

At half past six in the afternoon of the next day, the 37th Cannes Film Festival kicked off.

The long red carpet in front of the Palais is flanked by fanatical fans, security guards on standby, and reporters armed with long guns and short cannons. As the stars and directors took the stage one by one, the entire red carpet was enveloped in fan screams, shutter clicks, and intense white light. The bigger the wrists of the stars and directors, the louder the screams and clicks, and the brighter the white light.

It's a big year in Cannes, and Truffaut, Polanski, Bertolucci, Wim Wendersen, these glittering names come together in Cannes to put the town in the spotlight of the whole world. Jacob, the festival's artistic director, is proud of this: "The biggest names in the global film industry are gathered here. The authoritative film magazine "Variety" also called "the grand occasion of this lineup is the most in recent years". The screams and clicks on both sides of the red carpet came and went, and it simply didn't stop.

Because there are too many masters and too many stars at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Xu Wangqiu and the crew of "Cold" did not attract much attention when they walked on the red carpet. Xia Meng, David Jiang and Wang Mingquan have almost no influence in Europe, and after they walked on the red carpet, no one photographed them at all, let alone cheered.

Xu Wangqiu is quite influential in Europe, and after his three films were released in Europe, they achieved good results, and he published the "People's Film Manifesto" in Berlin, which attracted great attention and had a group of fans in Europe. After he walked on the red carpet, many reporters pressed the shutter on him, and more than a dozen foreign fans in the crowd shouted at the top of their voices: "Wangqiu!

Xu Wangqiu heard a fan calling him, smiled and waved his hand vigorously at the fan who called his name. When he waved his hand, those fans suddenly let out louder cheers and shouted harder: "Wangqiu!

Just then, the famous French actress Brigitte Bardot stepped out of the van. So all the photographers turned their lenses to her and didn't shoot Xu Wangqiu and them again, and now fans are crazy about calling her name, it's like a tsunami.

Xu Wangqiu was a little surprised, Brigitte Bardot has been in the film for almost ten years, and he didn't expect to have such an amazing influence, worthy of being Monroe in Europe. He smiled and shook his head, walked the red carpet with Xia Meng, and walked up the steps to the premiere scene.

On the platform above the steps, Robert Favre Lebret, president of the Festival de Cannes, is smiling as he awaits the guests who arrive.

Lebret had a French veneer gift with Xu Wangqiu, and said happily: "I'm glad that you can send the film to Cannes." Cannes needs a good young director like you. Your "Cold" is a very good movie, I like it very much. ”

Xu Wangqiu didn't know if Lebre was polite or really liked it, but he was still very happy to hear the chairman of the film festival say this: "Thank you, Mr. Lebret." It's our pleasure that you can like it. ”

Lebre didn't talk much with Xu Wangqiu, this is not the place to chat. After he made a face-to-face salute with Xia Meng and Jiang David, he sent Xu Wangqiu and them to the back steps. Those who noticed this scene were a little surprised. Normally, Lebret would just stand on the steps to greet guests, greet them, and rarely take them up the steps himself. The people who can send Lebre to the next level are undoubtedly heavyweight directors, but I didn't expect Xu Wangqiu to have this treatment.

Soon after Xu Wangqiu and they entered the Palais du Film, the opening ceremony of the film festival began. The judges stepped out of the silver curtain and greeted everyone present with a smile. The lights in the screening room were then turned off and the opening film, Mozart, was screened.

"Mozart" is the latest work of "One Flew Over the Asylum" director Milos Foreman, which tells the life of Mozart's legend. The whole film is tightly paced and passionate, and the shooting techniques are also innovative, and it is a work that is like a perfect blend of art and entertainment. By the time the screening ended, the audience gave a standing ovation that lasted about 10 minutes.

David Jiang and the others saw such a warm scene for the first time, and couldn't help but say, "Is this the film festival?"

Xu Wangqiu nodded slightly: "Yes, this is the film festival!"

After the opening ceremony, Xu Wangqiu and many guests attending the opening ceremony came to the Barrière Hotel, not far from the Cinema Palace, to attend the opening ceremony dinner. Since there are many reporters waiting to take pictures at the door of the dinner, many European and American celebrities will go back to the hotel to change their clothes before attending the dinner.

The opening dinner was like a big family gathering, with many familiar faces inside. Xu Wangqiu saw Marco Muller, the filmmaker of the Venice Film Festival, De Harden, the chairman of the Berlin Film Festival, and Shigeru Okada, the president of Toho. He couldn't help but feel a little emotional, if it weren't for a film festival like Cannes, it would be impossible for filmmakers from all over the world to gather together and talk freely.

Eating at Cannes is secondary, communicating with filmmakers from all over the world is the most important thing. As a frequent visitor to the film festival, Xu Wangqiu knows this, not only communicating with the filmmakers present, but also introducing Xia Meng and Jiang David to filmmakers from all over the world to connect them. Of course, there are many people who took the initiative to come to know Xu Wangqiu.

Xu Wangqiu was chatting with the president of the Locarno Film Festival when a man with a round head and a scruffy beard walked over. The man looked at Xu Wangqiu with a flattering smile on his face: "Mr. Xu, hello." My name is Russ von Trier. It's Danish. This is my first time in Cannes. I like your movies very much. ”

Of course, Xu Wangqiu knows who Lars von Trier is, this fierce man who will make awesome films like "Dog Town" and "The Idiot" in the future, and the pioneer of the Dogma 95 movement. According to the festival's brochure, Trier's film shortlisted for the main competition this time is called "Criminals", which is his first feature film.

Xu Wangqiu couldn't say which of Trier's movies he had watched, so he could only smile and say, "Hello." Mr. Trier. Nice to see you. The first film can be shortlisted for the main competition unit of the Cannes Film Festival, you are really amazing. ”

Trier smiled proudly: "Probably because the year before last, when I graduated from school, my graduation film "Image Polyhedron" won the Best Film Award at the Munich Film Festival, which attracted their attention. But seriously, "Criminal" is my first feature film, and there are many imitations and references, including your "Hoe Rape". ”

After making a recommendation to Xia Meng, Xu Wangqiu felt a little hungry and was ready to find something to eat. As soon as he arrived at the restaurant to find something to eat, he saw Chabrol and Polanski sitting not far away chatting. He took an empty plate, picked out some food, and walked over with the plate: "Mr. Polanski, Mr. Chabrol, long time no see." It's a pleasure to meet you. ”

Chabrol immediately smiled when he saw Xu Wangqiu: "Xu, you have been in the limelight in the past two years, not only won the highest award at the Berlin Film Festival, but also launched the People's Film Movement." There are as many people in France who hate you as there are people who like you. ”

Polanski was amused by Chabrol's words, looked at Xu Wangqiu and said: "It's interesting for you to engage in that people's film movement, and now there are too many directors in Europe who like to make movies esoteric and eccentric." Someone should stand up and contradict them. ”

Xu Wangqiu smiled and waved his hand: "I didn't want to go against European movies, it's just that we in China have been influenced by European films, forming a trend, pursuing the artistry of movies too much and despising the commerciality of films." We felt that this was wrong, that if the movies were made too esoteric, the audience wouldn't go to the cinema and the movie would be over. So, we stepped forward and made films that the audience liked, but there were artistic ones. ”

Chabrol nodded approvingly: "When your proclamation was made, Truffaut saw it, and he laughed and said that you have done a good job! If there is no audience, then the movie is dead!"

Xu Wangqiu didn't see Truffaut and Bertolucci on the list of guests attending today's opening ceremony, and couldn't help asking: "Truffaut and Bertolucci haven't arrived in Cannes yet, when will they come?"

"Bertolucci has something to do and should be over soon. As for Truffaut. Polanski's expression flashed with pain, and he said sadly, "He may not be able to come." ”

Xu Wangqiu was a little surprised: "Why, what's wrong?"

Polanski sighed deeply: "He has terminal cancer and is now being treated in the hospital. ”

Chabrol added: "He found out he had cancer at the end of last year, when the doctor hospitalized him, but he didn't listen, he said 'Psycho' was probably my last film and it was going to be done anyway. He insisted on going to the hospital until the film was finished and the post-production was done, and his condition was so bad that the doctor said he would not survive this year. ”

Xu Wangqiu felt a little gambled in his heart, and he didn't know what to say. The death of a figure like Truffaut is a huge loss for the entire film industry. After a moment of silence, he said with a determined expression, "I think he will come." He's definitely coming to Cannes because there's cinema and people who love cinema as much as he does!"